Despite reassurances from politicians that there are no sex offenders at the three new homeless shelters on the Upper West Side, the city can’t bar all sex offenders from city shelters, according to Isaac McGinn, spokesperson for the Department of Homeless Services (DHS).
Only sex offenders deemed “residency restricted” can be banned from shelters that are less than 1,000 feet from schools or child-care facilities, McGinn explained. Gaining that designation depends on factors like the severity of the offense and the offender’s criminal justice status.
It appears that the city had to scramble to make sure no residency-restricted clients are living in the UWS hotels that have been converted into homeless shelters — the Hotel Belleclaire (77th & Broadway), the Belnord Hotel (87th & Broadway), and The Lucerne (79th & Amsterdam). One of the residents at the Belleclaire with a residency restricted sex offender status was just transferred away in recent days.
Hotel conversions such as these are going on throughout the five boroughs, in an effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus by emptying congregate (dormitory-style) shelters, which make social distancing impossible, into hotels with single and double rooms.
On Monday, 283 men from two congregate shelters on the Lower East Side were transferred to The Lucerne. City Councilmember Helen Rosenthal spoke outside the hotel with a contingent from the community and a WSR reporter. Rosenthal said she had spoken to a city commissioner earlier that morning, who had assured her that there would be no sex offenders living at this site.
But DHS says it can’t unilaterally bar all sex offenders from shelters.
The comments under that article reek of emotional entitlement, outrage and group think.
My favorite: “If you can’t trust a politician’s assurances, who CAN you trust?”
Gee, I dunno.. maybe because Megan’s Law gave them a false sense of relief and reassurance in the first place??
For people who believe the government is supposed to protect them 24/7/365 at all costs need a reality check. If that’s what they’ll do during a natural disaster they will be dead. Go back and read Chicken Little because the sky isn’t falling!!
@ Facts, This article and a few others get to the point of inalienable rights endowed by the constitution and the Bill of Rights. This declaration is given to all humans by the creator such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These law enforcement personal are not playing by the rules of God in many of these ordeals. So were is “In God we trust. On our coins, In a court of law, or on our dollar bill?
Where is justice for all, no matter what the situation. Most of the time it is covered up by compromise or plea deals. Punishment is one thing and so is reputation and banishment and shaming from job discriminations, housing, etc. Making a stand and Free speech seems to be intimidating today. We as sex offenders are a majority also just the same as blacks and others tax payers, whether in or out of prison.
Nothing wrong with a demonstration just as long as its not a rebellion and speaking up. I’m ready to go to D.C with people in VA or any others as much of this is foul and is creating injustice in many ways. Are they not carnal also. Remember the man was not deceived so who is playing the jezebel in all this internet hijinks.
Safer Virginia just e-mailed me a few days ago and we all need to take some action not only for us but for others. The bible says think of others better than yourself.
This is happening all over the nation and much of this has to stop as authorities have blood on themselves by even inducing in this non contact way in many of these affairs.